“I am so grateful for the opportunity to learn and grow through this fellowship. As a future counselor, I know I will benefit greatly from learning how to better serve people from diverse backgrounds and how to advocate effectively for change in our society.”

Jenn D. Willis, graduate student in Appalachian’s clinical mental health counseling program

BOONE, N.C. — The NBCC Foundation, an affiliate of the National Board for Certified Counselors (NBCC), recently selected Jenna D. Willis, of Hatteras, for the NBCC Minority Fellowship Program for Addictions Counselors (MFP-AC). Willis, a graduate student in Appalachian State University’s clinical mental health counseling program, earned her Bachelor of Arts in psychology from the University of North Carolina at Wilmington in 2016.

As a participant in the NBCC MFP-AC, Willis will receive funding and training to support her education and facilitate her addictions counseling service to underserved minority transition-age youth (ages 16–25).

The NBCC MFP-AC is made possible by a grant awarded to NBCC by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) in September 2014. The foundation is contracted by NBCC to administer the NBCC MFP-AC, as well as training and collaboration activities, such as webinars, that are open to all National Certified Counselors (NCCs).

The goal of the program is to reduce health disparities and improve behavioral health care outcomes for racially and ethnically diverse populations by increasing the available number of culturally competent behavioral health professionals.

The NBCC MFP will distribute up to $11,000 to Willis and 33 other master’s-level addictions counseling students selected to receive the fellowship award. Upon graduation, Willis said she plans to work with people who have experiences with trauma and addiction.

“I am so grateful for the opportunity to learn and grow through this fellowship. As a future counselor, I know I will benefit greatly from learning how to better serve people from diverse backgrounds and how to advocate effectively for change in our society,” Willis said.

The NBCC Foundation has also awarded 23 doctoral fellowships through the Minority Fellowship Program and 30 master’s-level fellowships through the Minority Fellowship Program-Youth (MFP-Y).

The foundation plans to open the next NBCC MFP-AC application period in fall 2018. To learn more about the NBCC MFP and its fellows, visit http://www.nbccf.org/Programs/Fellows.

NBCC Minority Fellowship Program for Addictions Counselors (MFP-AC)

National Board for Certified Counselors (NBCC)

In 2012, the National Board for Certified Counselors (NBCC) was awarded the federally funded Minority Fellowship Program (MFP) grant from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). This grant allows the Foundation to distribute up to 24 doctoral-level minority fellowships on a yearly basis. These awards enable fellows to provide leadership to the profession through education, research and practice benefiting vulnerable underserved consumers.

In 2014, NBCC was awarded two additional federally funded MFP grants from SAMHSA that allow the Foundation to distribute up to 80 master’s-level minority fellowships on a yearly basis. These fellowships increase the number of culturally competent addiction counselors and mental health counselors available to underserved minority populations, with a specific focus on transition-age youth (ages 16–25).

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Clinical Mental Health Counseling: Master of Arts (MA)

The Master of Arts degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling is an accredited 60-hour program offering advanced preparation for counselors and other helping professionals who work in a variety of human service agencies.

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About the National Board for Certified Counselors Foundation

The NBCC Foundation is the nonprofit affiliate of the National Board for Certified Counselors (NBCC), based in Greensboro, North Carolina. NBCC is the nation’s premier professional certification board devoted to credentialing counselors who meet standards for the general and specialty practices of professional counseling. Currently, more than 64,000 board-certified counselors are present in the United States and more than 50 additional countries. The foundation’s mission is to leverage the power of counseling by strategically focusing resources for positive change.

About Appalachian State University

As a premier public institution, Appalachian State University prepares students to lead purposeful lives. App State is one of 17 campuses in the University of North Carolina System, with a national reputation for innovative teaching and opening access to a high-quality, cost-effective education. The university enrolls more than 21,000 students, has a low student-to-faculty ratio and offers more than 150 undergraduate and 80 graduate majors at its Boone and Hickory campuses and through App State Online. Learn more at https://www.appstate.edu.